Due to the local economics as well as the results of the draconian COVID lockdown, there are only a handful of jazz clubs in LA still alive and functioning. Near the LA airport stands Sam First Bar, the last of the clubs that serves mainstream and modern acoustic jazz on an almost daily basis. The fun part of the club is that there is a regular rotating coterie of artists that grace the walls, as well as a haven for touring bands that want to play somewhere more intimate than UCLA’s Royce Hall.
Sam First Bar has now started its own label, and these three releases gives a hint of the kind of music that the cozy confines produces
Pianist Josh Nelson, a local legends, brings together an all star cast of Walter Smith III/ts, Larry Koonse/g, Luca Alemanno/b, Dan Scnelle/dr and guest vocalist Gaby Moreno for an impressive mix and match of moods. Moreno and Nelson deliver a gorgeously intimate “Feed The Birds”, while Koonse’s acoustic guitar makes for a folksy dream on “Tiburcio”. Smith and company team up to Nelson’s prance on “Forward Momentum” and the team gets fluffy on “Old Friends”, closing out the evening with the saxist and leader cooing on “Spirit”. Casual corners.
Legendary drummer Joe La Barbera gets back together with long time local buddies Bob Sheppard/ts, Clay Jenkins/tp, Bill Cunliffe/p and Jonathan Richard/b for a timeless collection of post boppers. La Barbera sounds like he’s recreated the Jazz Messengers on a Blue Note-inspired “Blue Notes” with the horns swinging easy. The leader gives a workshop on the drums for an intro to the exotic and earthy “Lake Earie” and the galloping “Grand Central”. Sheppard fills the room on the ballad “You Know I Care” and Jenkins bops on “It’s a Big Wide Wonderful World” with the team sears through a muscle flexor of “Soultrain”. Where are the Francis Wolff photos?
Youngest of the leaders is 37 year old pianist Justin Kauflin, who has a touch inspired by Bill Evans on this trio session with Sam First manager David Robaire/b and Mark Ferber/dr. His solo work is simply astounding, rich and thoughtful on the hymn “Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing” and an light through the sained glass window of “Candy”. The trio is reflective, as Robaire leads the way on “Thank You Lord” and sets the table for Kauflin’s splashes on “No Matter”. Ferber and Robaire propel the leader on Coming Home” and create a delicate ballet dance to the leader’s introduction to a rich “Exodus”. As Sonny Rollins once said, an album is an invitation to a concert. What is a concert album of a jazz club an invitation to?